Flashlight attachment



May 18, 1965 A. 1.. GIBBENS FLASHLIGHT ATTACHMENT Filed April 8, 1963INV EN TOR ALFRED L. 67555:

United States Patent 3,184,589 FLASHLIGHT ATTACHMENT Alfred L. Gihbens,2203 Nelson Ave, Redondo Beach, Qaliir'.

Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,419 4 Claims. (ill. 246-1067) Thisinvention relates to battery operated, hand-size or portable flashlightsand provides an adapter unit which may be substituted at will for theordinary light bulb or lamp, so as to dispose a (usually smaller) lampoutside the case with its light directed generally transverse to that ofthe original bulb. In other words, it provides an adapter elbow withwhich the ordinary cylindrical flashlight (such as carries two or moredry cells in a single row) may be hung or stood on end and its lightfocusses at right angles so as to illuminate a particular spot or cavityof a workpiece or the like. This is particularly valuable to machinistswho may need to have the light thus directed at the same time that bothhands are required to manipulate tools or workpiece. In addition, sincethe present light beam is narrowly focussed and without a widereflector, the operator can place his eye to peer closely parallel tothe light beam so as to look into a narrow crevice or the like from thesame angle. Also, a smaller bulb can (and usually is) used in theadapter, and such bulb may advantageously draw current from the longerlasting power pack supplied with the larger, wide beam lamp. However, ifdesired, the initial flashlight bulb may also be used in such adapter.

In a preferred embodiment, the funnel-shaped reflector which commonlyprovides both an electrical contact and a socket for the light bulb, canalternately be used to anchor the adapter unit in the casing head andprovide connection to the battery as before. The ordinary, trans parent,facing panel or window may simply be temporarily removed from theflashlight when replacing the bulb with the adapter; or alternately, atwo-piece panel may be provided, having a central aperture forsupportingly embracing the adapter mounted therethrough, and in theabsence of the adapter for transmitting the light of the original lampin a more narrowly restricted beam. In the latter case, either afocussing lens or a clear pane may be pressed into the aperture for useduring the time when the flashlight is employed without the adapter; orthe original wide window can be put back.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, having particular reference to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred construction embodying the invention whereinFIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a flashlight assembly with theright end and the base of the mounted adapter shown in longitudinalsection;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal axial sectional view of theadapter unit with the terminal lamp shown in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the adapter unit taken along theline 3-3 of FIGURE 2, partly in section;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the adapter from the opposite end asviewed along the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view through the lampend of the flashlight with the adapter of FIGURE I removed and replacedwith the conventional bulb and socket elements.

The adapter unit of the invention is here illustrated in conjunctionwith a hand flashlight having a tubular, generally cylindrical case 19carrying one or more dry cells 12 disposed in series, with the centralelectrode 14 in normal contact with the end terminal 16 of a light bulbor lamp 18 (FIGURE 5). A hand operated switch 2i), by

3,.l3 la589 Patented May 18, 19%5 closing a circuit through the contactbridge 22 and reflector 24, connects the outer electrodes or metalcontainers of the successive cells 12 to light the lamp in the wellknown manner. The sides of the lower end of the bulb 18 are enclosed ina metal sleeve 26 having a peripheral lip 27 which abuts the inturnedshoulder 25 of the. neck of the reflector 24. An externally threaded nut28 within which the bulb sleeve 26 is slidingly received, threadedlyengages the threaded neck or socket 29 of the reflector 24. The bulb I8is thus held in the reflectorsupport 24 by the lip 27 clamped betweenthe shoulder 25 and the inner end of the nut 28 which is formed ofinsulating material.

A transparent cover or window 3% overlies the outer edge of thefunnel-shaped reflector 24, both being held in place by aninwardly-flanged band or collar 32 which is threadedly mounted on theperipherally enlarged end 34 of the case 10. Upon unscrewing the collar32, the window 30 and reflector 24 with its mounted bulb 18 can beremoved from the case It). The nut 28 is then unscrewed and, togetherwith the bulb and sleeve 26, withdrawn from the reflector 24.

Two new elements are then coupled together within the funnel neck orsocket area 29; a proximately flanged, internally threaded nut 36slidingly inserted from the bottom of the funnel, and a terminallythreaded tube 38 inserted from the top of the socket area 29 until anannular shoulder 4t) thereon abuts a washer 42 which is supported on theshoulder 25 adjacent the neck or base of the reflector 24. An insulatedwire 44 traverses the interior of the tube, starting from a contactterminal 16:: which is anchored or sunk in an insulator button 46.

The outer or distal end of the tube 38 is laterally tap drilled at 48,and a short, externally threaded, hollow stem 50 is partially insertedtherein, with its outwardly pro-. jecting portion carrying a nut 52.Therouter end of, the. stem 59 is overlaid by the flanged head 54 ofanother insulator button, the tubular neck 56 of which is frictionallyreceived within the stem. An electrical contact 58 is press fit into thecenter of the flange portion 54 and inwardly connected to the wire 44,so as to electrically connect the central pole 14 of the dry cell 12with the central terminal 60 of a lamp 62. A shield 64 or tubular lampholder formed of conducting material (i.e. metal) has its inner end 66threadingly secured to the nut 52. Internally, a compression spring 68disposed outwardly concentric to the insulator disk 54, serves as anelectrical conductor to connect the nut 52 and the lateral terminal 70of the lamp; it also maintains the tip 72 of the lamp in frictionalregistration and alignment with the annular opening 74 of the shield.Thus it will be observed that when shield 64 is unscrewed or axiallyextended a small amount from its tight engagement against the alignedbulb and spring, expansion of the spring 68 thereupon disengages theaxial contacts 5% 6! and thereby extinguishes the light in the lamp 62.In fact, the bulb 62 may be so adjusted that slight pressure against itstip 72 {c.g. by holding it against the edge of a workpiece) will eifectelectrical contact and cause the bulb to light. Since such wheat sizelamps are usually not lit for long continued periods, such finger tippressure control of the switch means may be quite desirable.

In place of the single transparent disk or pane which occupies thewindow area of an ordinary flashlight, the two-piece panel 39 may haveits outer circle either lighttransmitting or not, with the centralaperture either left open (upon removal of the adapter shaft 38) or elseoccupied by a transparent member :or lens 31 which can be lodged in theopening simply by finger pressure (and similarly removed) by reason of alimited flexibility or resilience of the surrounding annulus 30.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various '59 changesof construction and operation may be made within the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and therefore this disclosure is not to be limited by theprecise details shown in the drawings or particularly described in thespecification by way of example, but due regard should be given to thepossible substitution of known equivalents.

I claim:

1. An attachment head for functionally connecting to a portable tubularcase containing a battery therein, individual lamps at alternatepositions respectively within and without the case, and comprising incombination: a generally funnel-shaped support having an outer edgeremovably lodged within one end of said case posterior to an overlyingwindow area, said funnel having a central, dependent neck containingsocket means adapted to detachably retain a lamp in electrical contactwith said battery; a generally annular attachment collar encircling andrestrainingly overlying the outer edge of said support when the collaris secured to said case; a centrally apertured disk removably occupyingsaid window area byrneans of said attachment collar, the aperture ofwhich disk is disposed to transmit light from a lamp in said socket andalternately to supportingly embrace said longitudinal shaft when thelatter is mounted in the socket and projecting outward through theaperture; a lens removably mounted in the aperture of said disk; and alongitudinal shaft having means for retention in said neck alternate tosaid lamp, in a position projecting outward beyond the end of said caseand functionally carrying a generally terminal lamp at its outer end inelectrical contact with said battery.

2. An attachment head for functionally connecting to a portable, tubularcase containing avbattery therein, individual lamps at alternatepositions respectively within and without the case, and comprising incombination: a generally funnel-shaped support having an outer edgeremovably lodged within one end of said case posterior to an overlyingwindow area, said funnel having a central, dependent neck containingsocket means adapted to detachably retain a lamp in electrical contactwith said bat tery; a generally annular attachment collar, encirclingand restrainingly overlying the outer edge of said support when thecollar is secured to said case; and a longitudinal shaft having meansfor retention in said neck alternate to said lamp, in a positionprojecting outward beyond the end of said case and functionally carryinga generally terminal lamp at its outer end in electrical contact withsaid battery, said shaft being tubular and externally threaded at .itsinner end and provided with abutment means adjacent said threadedportion for registration with the neck of said funnel, and said socketmeans includes a flanged nut slidably insertable into said neck andthreadedly engageable with said shaft, whereby the shaft may be anchoredin the funnel neck against displacement in either direction whileremaining rotatable relative to said funnel.

3. The attachment head of the preceding claim 2 wherein said terminallamp is disposed in a shield transversely projecting from said shaft.

4. The attachment head of the preceding claim 2 wherein said shaft is atubular, electrical conductor carrying an insulated electrical conduitwithin itself, and said terminal lamp is disposed in a shieldtransversely projecting from said shaft and having an outer window forprojection of light therethrough from said lamp, the lamp having a tipwhich extends through said outer window, said conduit being connected toone electrical contact of said lamp and another contact of the lampbeing connected to said shaft by an axially disposed coil spring, saidshield being axially adjustable whereby electrical circuit may be madeand interrupted through the lamp by slight axial displacement of the tipof the lamp pressed against a workpiece.

References Cited by the Examiner NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. EVONC. BLUNK, Examiner.

1. AN ATTACHMENT HEAD FOR FUNCTIONALLY CONNECTING TO A PORTABLE TUBULARCASE CONTAINING A BATTERY THEREIN, INDIVIDUAL LAMPS AT ALTERNATEPOSITIONS RESPECTIVELY WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE CASE, AND COMPRISING INCOMBINATION: A GENERALLY FUNNEL-SHAPED SUPPORT HAVING AN OUTER EDGEREMOVABLY LOADED WITHIN ONE END OF SAID CASE POSTERIOR TO AN OVERLYINGWINDOW AREA, SAID FUNNEL HAVING A CENTRAL, DEPENDENT NECK CONTAININGSOCKET MEANS ADAPTED TO DETACHABLY RETAIN A LAMP IN ELECTRICAL CONTACTWITH SAID BATTERY; A GENERALLY ANNULAR ATTACHMENT COLLAR ENCIRCLING ANDRESTRAININGLY OVERLYING THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID SUPPORT WHEN THE COLLARIS SECURED TO SAID CASE; A CENTRALLY APERTURNED DISK REMOVABLY OCCUPYINGSAID WINDOW AREA BY MEANS OF SAID ATTACHMENT COLLAR, THE APERTURE OFWHICH DISK IS DISPOSED TO TRANSMIT LIGHT FROM A LAMP IN SAID SOCKET ANDALTERNATELY TO SUPPORTINGLY EMBRACE SAID LONGITUDINAL SHAFT WHEN THELATTER IS MOUNTED IN THE SOCKET AND PROJECTING OUTWARD THROUGH THEAPERTURE; A LENS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN THE APERTURE OF SAID DISK; AND ALONGITUDINAL SHAFT HAVING MEANS FOR RETENTION IN SAID NECK ALTERNATE TOSAID LAMP, IN A POSITION PROJECTING OUTWARD BEYOND THE END OF SAID CASEAND FUNCTIONALLY CARRYING A GENERALLY TERMINAL LAMP AT ITS OUTER END INELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID BATTERY.